Seat for a watercraft

ABSTRACT

A seat for a watercraft having a housing section defining a space for receiving a rider, the seat comprising a base seat comprising a longitudinal arcuate base projection or groove extending downwardly or upwardly along a longitudinal axis of the watercraft, the housing section comprising a longitudinal arcuate housing groove or projection extending downwardly or upwardly along the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal arcuate base projection or groove and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove or projection registering with one another such that, in use, the rider can move the base seat from a first configuration to a second configuration, the first configuration being different than the second configuration.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a seat for a watercraft having ahousing section defining a space for receiving a rider. The seat has abase seat for supporting the pelvis and thigh regions of the rider andthe base seat is adjustable from a first configuration to a secondconfiguration upon movement of the base seat along a longitudinal axisof the watercraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, kayak manufacturers have been implementing improvementson kayaks to accommodate riders and enhance their kayaking experience.In one aspect, the comfort of the rider largely depends on the seatingmechanism employed. Furthermore, efforts have been made to ensure that astandard kayak and seating mechanism can accommodate different riders ofdifferent sizes as well as the possibly varying needs in comfort of asame rider.

An improvement that has been implemented in an effort to accommodatedifferent sized riders is the possibility of sliding the seat along astraight slot that extends along the longitudinal axis of thewatercraft. However, this adjustment does not necessarily providecomfortable support of the pelvis and thigh regions of a rider. Inaddition, it is also known in the art to employ a pump, valve andbladder mechanism under the thigh support in order to adjust theposition of the thigh support via inflation of the bladder. However,this evidently requires the addition of a complicated mechanism in orderto achieve a variance in the angle of the seat. Furthermore, only aportion of the base of the seat is movable. Therefore, even though theangular position of the thigh supporting region may be adjusted, thiscould still provide for a level of discomfort due to the discontinuityin inclination levels between the thigh supporting region and the pelvissupporting region depending on the size of the rider relative to theshape of the seat.

Hence, a deficiency with traditional seat adjustment mechanisms residesin the fact that the rider may not experience a desired level of comfortand support. This could therefore lead to a sub-optimal kayakingexperience.

There is therefore a need for an adjustable seat for a watercraft inwhich the seat base adequately supports the thigh and pelvis region ofthe rider and wherein the seat base is adjustable to accommodate thecomfort needs of different riders or alternatively, different comfortneeds of a same rider.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided aseat for a watercraft having a housing section defining a space forreceiving a rider, the seat comprising a base seat adapted to supportthe pelvis and thigh regions of the rider, the base seat comprising alongitudinal arcuate base projection or groove extending downwardly orupwardly along a longitudinal axis of the watercraft, the housingsection comprising a longitudinal arcuate housing groove or projectionextending downwardly or upwardly along the longitudinal axis, thelongitudinal arcuate base projection or groove and the longitudinalarcuate housing groove or projection registering with one another suchthat, in use, the rider can move the base seat from a firstconfiguration to a second configuration, wherein, in the firstconfiguration, the base seat is at a first position along thelongitudinal axis and at a first inclination relative to a horizontalaxis parallel to the longitudinal axis; wherein, in the secondconfiguration, the base seat is at a second position along thelongitudinal axis and at a second inclination relative to the horizontalaxis; and wherein the first configuration is different than the secondconfiguration.

This and other aspects and features of the present invention will nowbecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of thefollowing description of specific embodiments of the invention and theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of embodiments of the present invention isprovided hereinbelow with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a watercraft having a housing sectiondefining a space for receiving a rider seated on a seat;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the housing section ofFIG. 1 showing the seat having a base seat and back support;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the housing section and seatshowing the seat base in a first configuration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the housing section and seatshowing the seat base in a second configuration;

FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of thehousing section and seat base of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5B is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment ofthe housing section and seat base of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5C is an exploded perspective view showing yet another embodimentof the housing section and seat base of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the housing section and seat base ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the housing section and seat base ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the seat base;

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the seat base; and

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the housing section.

In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way ofexample. It is to be expressly understood that the description anddrawings are only for purposes of illustration and as an aid tounderstanding, and are not intended to be a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

To facilitate the description, any reference numeral designating anelement in one figure will designate the same element if used in anyother figures. In describing the embodiments, specific terminology isresorted to for the sake of clarity but the invention is not intended tobe limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is understood thateach specific term comprises all equivalents.

Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be readtogether with the specification, and are to be considered a portion ofthe entire written description of this invention. As used in thefollowing description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”,“right”, “up”, “down” and the like, as well as adjectival and adverbialderivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”,“radially”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustratedstructure. Similarly, the terms “inwardly,” “outwardly” and “radially”generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis ofelongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.

FIG. 1 shows a watercraft 10 comprising a front section 12, a medialsection 14 and a rear section 16. The medial section 14 has a housingsection 18 defining a space for receiving a rider. As shown in FIGS. 1to 4, the watercraft also comprises a seat 20 having a back support 22and a base seat 24 adapted to receive and support the pelvis and thighregions of the rider.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, the base seat 24 comprises a longitudinalarcuate base projection 26 projecting downwardly along a longitudinalaxis A-A of the watercraft 10. The longitudinal arcuate base projection26 registers with a longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 provided onthe housing section 18 and extending downwardly along the longitudinalaxis A-A. The longitudinal arcuate base projection 26 and thelongitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 are shaped such that theyregister with one another as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

It is to be noted that the shape of the longitudinal arcuate baseprojection 26 and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 is not tobe limited by the embodiment depicted in the figures. For example, inanother embodiment, the longitudinal arcuate base projection 26 canalternatively be full such that the top portion of the base seat 24 isflush and does not present a recess delineating the location of thegroove.

In another embodiment, the longitudinal arcuate base projection 26,which extends generally along the medial axis of the base seat 24, maybe replaced by two or three separated longitudinal arcuate baseprojections and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 26, whichextends generally along the medial axis of the housing section 18, maybe replaced by two or three separated longitudinal arcuate housinggrooves wherein the two or three separated longitudinal arcuate baseprojections and the two or three separated longitudinal arcuate housinggrooves register with one another.

Additionally, in another embodiment, the longitudinal arcuate housinggroove 28 can take the form of a longitudinal arcuate housing projectionextending upwardly along the longitudinal axis instead, such that thelongitudinal arcuate housing projection registers with a longitudinalarcuate groove provided in the base seat and extending upwardly alongthe longitudinal axis.

As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the longitudinal arcuate base projection26 and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 register with oneanother such that the base seat 24 slides along the defined arcuate pathwhen the base seat 24 is moved by the rider. As such, the base seat 24can achieve an infinite number of configurations along the definedarcuate path.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the arcuate path substantially follows alongitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A. It ishowever understood that the shapes of the longitudinal arcuate baseprojection 26 and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 may takeany form such that relative motion between the longitudinal arcuate baseprojection 26 and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 allows forthe configuration of the base 24 to be adjusted. More particularly, thebase seat 24 must simply register with the bottom portion of the housingsection via any means allowing the base seat 24 to follow anyconceivable arcuate path where movement of the base seat 24 from a firstposition to a second position imparts a range of different inclinationsof the base seat 24 between a first inclination and a secondinclination.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, each configuration provides for aspecific position along the longitudinal axis A-A and a specificinclination angle θ of the base seat 24 with respect to a horizontalaxis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A. In FIGS. 3 and 6,the base seat 24 is in a first position and a first inclination withrespect to the longitudinal axis A-A. In FIGS. 4 and 7, the base seat 24is in a second position and a second inclination with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the watercraft A-A, wherein the second position isdifferent than the first position (more forward) and the secondinclination is different that the first inclination (more inclined) suchthat the first configuration is different than the second configuration.In other words, in the second configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, thebase seat 24 is positioned more forwardly and is more inclined comparedto the first configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 6.

The range of movement may be between 2 inches to 12 inches and theinclination angles θ may vary between −5° and 30°. Alternatively, therange of movement may be between 5 inches to 10 inches and theinclination angles θ may vary between 0° and 20°.

It can be understood that the base seat 24 can be manufactured from avariety of rigid materials known in the art. For example, in oneembodiment, the base seat 24 can be made of plastic. In a more specificembodiment, the base seat 24 can be made of composite materials,polyethylene, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride(PVC), polypropylene (PP) or polycarbonate (PC). In yet anotherembodiment, the seat can also comprise cushioning foam (not shown) toincrease the level of comfort provided. Regarding the shaping of thebase seat 24, the base seat 24 can be manufactured, for example, via anymolding or shaping technique known in the art.

The seat 20 may also comprise supplementary guiding means in addition tothe longitudinal arcuate base groove 26 and the longitudinal arcuatehousing groove 28. As best seen in FIGS. 5A, 8 and 9, the base seat 24may also comprise longitudinal slots for registering with respectiveleft and right tool-free bolts 34, 36. More specifically, the base seat24 may comprise a left longitudinal slot 30 generally located on theleft side of the base seat 24 and a right longitudinal slot 32 generallylocated on the right side of the base seat 24. The left tool-free bolt34 registers with the left longitudinal slot 30 and the right tool-freebolt 36 registers with the right longitudinal slot 32.

Each of the tool-free bolts 34, 36 has gripping portions allowing therider to turn the bolt without a tool. For example, each of thetool-free bolts 34, 36 may have a head 35 having projections anddepressions defining gripping portions that offer a proper grip to thethumb and finger(s) of the rider. In use, each of the tool-free bolts34, 36 may be in two different positions for performing two differentfunctions. More particularly, in a first position, the tool-free bolts34, 36 are unscrewed by the rider in order to allow movement of the baseseat 24 from the first configuration to the second configuration. Inthis first position, the base seat 24 is then further guided by themovement of the slots 30, 32 relative to the tool-free bolts 34, 36. Ina second position, the bolts 34, 36 are screwed by the rider in order toprevent movement of the base seat 24. Each of the tool-free bolts 34, 36has therefore two functions; first, it serves as a guiding means whenthe base seat 24 moves from a first configuration to a secondconfiguration, and second, it serves as a locking means for preventingmovement of the base seat 24 along the longitudinal axis A-A once therider has selected the desired configuration.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 to 5A, the seat 20 may also comprise a strap 50attached at both ends of the housing section 18 and to the base seat 24.As shown in FIG. 5A, a substantial portion of the strap 50 may belocated under the base seat 24. The strap 50 may comprise a left endstrap portion 52 mounted on the left side of the housing section 18 anda right end strap portion 54 mounted on the right side of the housingsection 18. The seat 20 may also comprise left and right buckles 56, 58mounted on each side of the housing section 18 in order to aid in thetightening and loosening of the strap 50. More specifically, the leftend strap portion 52 would pass through the left buckle 56 located onthe left side of the housing section 18 and the right end strap portion54 would pass through the right buckle 58 located on the right side ofthe housing section 18. The left end strap portion 52 and the right endstrap portion 54 of the strap 50 may serve as a locking mechanism forthe base seat 24 such that the inclination of the base seat 24 remainsthe same when the strap 50 is tightened. For example, once the base seat24 is in the first inclination shown in FIG. 3, or in the secondinclination shown in FIG. 4, a tightening of the strap 50 would actagainst the rider's weight such that the base seat 24 remains in theselected inclination when the rider is seated on the seat 20 (seat base24). It is understood that the tool-free bolts 34, 36 also serve as alocking means for preventing movement of the base seat 24 once the riderhas selected the desired configuration.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the left longitudinal slot 30 and the rightlongitudinal slot 32 may each be defined along a downward projectingarcuate portion 40. As best shown in FIG. 10, the housing section 18 hasleft and right side downward projecting concave portions 42 (only leftside concave portion is shown). The left and right side downwardprojecting arcuate portions 40 on the base seat 24 register with leftand right side downward projecting arcuate concave portions 42 on thehousing section 18 such that the left and right side downward projectingarcuate portions 40 and the left and right side downward projectingconcave portions 42 slidingly engage with one another as the base seat24 moves along the longitudinal axis A-A while the rider adjusts thebase seat 24 from the first configuration to the second configuration.

In other embodiments such as those depicted in FIGS. 5B and 5C, thetool-free bolts 34, 36 are replaced by guiding bolts 134, 136 such thatthey are not indented to be screwed or unscrewed by the rider and thatthey are primarily guiding means. More specifically, the guiding bolts134, 136 of FIGS. 5B and 5C are not adjustable without a tool (e.g.screwdriver) and, once in a given position, there is no need for therider to screw or unscrew the guiding bolts 134, 136. The guiding bolts134, 136 are therefore guiding means that register with the longitudinalslots 30, 32.

As shown in FIG. 5B, a portion of the strap 50 is attached to the baseseat 24 via at least one bolt 60 and nut 62. For example, the base seat24 may comprise a number of apertures 64 which align with respectiveapertures 66 on the strap 50 to receive a given bolt 60 and a given nut62. In another embodiment, such as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5C,the strap 50 passes through a set of base seat apertures 70 suitablysized to receive the strap 50.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the left end strap portion52 and the right end strap portion 54 of the strap 50 serve as a lockingmechanism for the base seat 24 such that the inclination andlongitudinal position of the base seat 24 remains the same when thestrap 50 is tightened. Hence, once the base seat 24 is in the desiredconfiguration, a tightening of the strap 50 would act against therider's weight such that the base seat remains in the selectedinclination. Moreover, because a portion of the strap is attached to thebase seat 24 (by the bolt and nut assembly shown in FIG. 5B or by theportion of the strap passing in the apertures 70 shown in FIG. 5C), atightening of the strap 50 would also prevent movement of the base seat24 along the longitudinal axis A-A such that the base seat 24 remains inthe selected position.

Although various embodiments have been illustrated, this was for thepurpose of describing, but not limiting, the invention. Variousmodifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art and arewithin the scope of this invention, which is defined more particularlyby the attached claims.

1. A seat for a watercraft having a housing section defining a space forreceiving a rider, said seat comprising a base seat adapted to supportthe pelvis and thigh regions of the rider, said base seat comprising alongitudinal arcuate base projection or groove extending downwardly orupwardly along a longitudinal axis of the watercraft, said housingsection comprising a longitudinal arcuate housing groove or projectionextending downwardly or upwardly along said longitudinal axis, saidlongitudinal arcuate base projection or groove and said longitudinalarcuate housing groove or projection registering with one another suchthat, in use, the rider can move said base seat from a firstconfiguration to a second configuration, wherein, in said firstconfiguration, said base seat is at a first position along saidlongitudinal axis and at a first inclination relative to a horizontalaxis parallel to said longitudinal axis; wherein, in said secondconfiguration, said base seat is at a second position along saidlongitudinal axis and at a second inclination relative to saidhorizontal axis; and wherein said first configuration is different thansaid second configuration.
 2. A seat for a watercraft as defined inclaim 1, wherein inclination angles of said base seat relative to saidhorizontal axis vary between −5° and 30° when said base seat is movedfrom said first configuration to said second configuration.
 3. A seatfor a watercraft as defined in claim 1, wherein inclination angles ofsaid base seat relative to said horizontal axis vary between 0° and 20°when said base seat is moved from said first configuration to saidsecond configuration.
 4. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 1,wherein said base seat has a first downward projecting arcuate portionon a left side and a second downward projecting arcuate portion on aright side, said left and right side downward projecting arcuateportions registering respectively with a left downward projectingarcuate concave portion and a right downward projecting arcuate concaveportion provided on said housing section.
 5. A seat for a watercraft asdefined in claim 4, wherein said left and right side downward projectingarcuate portions comprise left and right longitudinal slots forreceiving left and right bolts adapted to guide movement of said baseseat as said base seat is moved from said first configuration to saidsecond configuration.
 6. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 5,wherein each of said left and right bolts has a head allowing the riderto turn said bolt without a tool such that the rider can unscrew saidbolt for allowing movement of said base seat along said longitudinalaxis and screw said bolt for preventing movement of said base seat.
 7. Aseat for a watercraft as defined in claim 6, wherein said head hasprojections and depressions defining gripping portions.
 8. A seat for awatercraft as defined in claim 1, further comprising a strap locatedunder said base seat and comprising a left end strap portion passingthrough a left buckle provided on said housing section and a right endstrap portion passing through a right buckle provided on said housingsection.
 9. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 8, wherein saidleft end strap portion and said right end strap portion are capable ofbeing loosened for adjusting said base seat from said firstconfiguration to said second configuration and being tightened formaintaining said base seat in a selected configuration.
 10. A seat for awatercraft as defined in claim 9, wherein a portion of said straplocated under said base seat is affixed to said base seat such thatmovement of said base seat along said longitudinal axis is preventedwhen said strap is tightened.
 11. A seat for a watercraft as defined inclaim 1, wherein said longitudinal arcuate base projection or groove isa longitudinal arcuate base projection, wherein said longitudinalarcuate housing groove or projection is a longitudinal arcuate housinggroove, and wherein said longitudinal arcuate base projection and saidlongitudinal arcuate housing groove register with one another.
 12. Aseat for a watercraft as defined in claim 11, wherein said longitudinalarcuate base projection extends generally along a medial axis of saidbase seat and said longitudinal arcuate housing groove extends generallyalong a medial axis of said housing section.
 13. A seat for a watercraftas defined in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal arcuate base projectionor groove comprises left and right separate longitudinal arcuate baseprojections, wherein said longitudinal arcuate housing groove orprojection comprise left and right separate longitudinal arcuate housinggrooves, and wherein said left and right longitudinal arcuate baseprojections and said left and right longitudinal arcuate housing groovesregister with one another.
 14. A seat for a watercraft as described inclaim 1, wherein said base seat is made of a rigid material.
 15. A seatfor a watercraft as described in claim 14, wherein said rigid materialis plastic.
 16. A seat for a watercraft as described in claim 14,wherein said base seat is molded.
 17. A seat for a watercraft as definedin claim 14, wherein said seat base is made of composite materials,polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride,polypropylene or polycarbonate.
 18. A seat for a watercraft as definedin claim 14, wherein said seat further comprises cushioning foam.
 19. Aseat for a watercraft as defined in claim 18, wherein said cushioningfoam is selected from a group of polyurethanes.